Laptop based television remote control

ABSTRACT

A laptop that interacts with a television system. At least one module may be adapted to receive a user input identifying a video selection. The at least one module may also be adapted to display video information corresponding to the video selection. The at least one module may further be adapted to transmit a control signal adapted to cause the display of video information corresponding to the video selection on the television system. The laptop may, for example, be adapted to receive television system setting information and provide for user control of various television system settings. Also for example, the laptop may be adapted to receive media guide information, present such information to a user, provide for user selection of a media element, and transmit a control signal adapted to cause delivery of the selected media element from a multimedia source to the television system.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The present application is related to and claims priority from U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/758,312, with attorney docketnumber 16872US01, filed Jan. 12, 2006, and titled “LAPTOP BASEDTELEVISION REMOTE CONTROL,” the contents of which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

The present application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/290,974, filed Nov. 30, 2005, titled “PARALLEL TELEVISION REMOTECONTROL,” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/290,297, filed Nov. 30,2005, titled “CONTROL DEVICE WITH LANGUAGE SELECTIVITY,” U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/289,971, filed Nov. 30, 2005, titled “PHONEBASED TELEVISION REMOTE CONTROL,” U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/289,848, filed Nov. 30, 2005, titled “PARALLEL TELEVISION DOCKINGADAPTER, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/290,079, filed Nov. 30,2005, titled “UNIVERSAL PARALLEL TELEVISION REMOTE CONTROL,” U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. ______, with attorney docket number 168700502,filed concurrently herewith, titled “PARALLEL TELEVISION BASED MEDIARECORDING,” U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, with attorneydocket number 16873US02, filed concurrently herewith, titled “PARALLELTELEVISION BASED VIDEO SEARCHING,” and U.S. patent application Ser. No.______, with attorney docket number 16876US02, filed concurrentlyherewith, titled “PARALLEL TELEVISION BASED MEDIA INTERACTION,” each ofwhich are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[Not Applicable]

SEQUENCE LISTING

[Not Applicable]

MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE

[Not Applicable]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Present invention relates to controlling selection and delivery ofbroadcast channels to a television through interaction with thetelevision, set top box and channel broadcasting source.

2. Description of the Related Art

A typical remote control (or “Remote” as used herein) has multiplepredefined buttons. A Remote is used to change TV (“Television”)channels, change audio and video settings of the TV and control powersupply to the TV by selecting one or more of the buttons. A Remoteinteracts with TV in one direction. A remote generally sends controlsignal to a TV using infrared or RF transmission. The control signaltriggers the TV to implement the changes. An unobstructed view betweenthe Remote and the TV is typically needed when infrared transmission isused. The Remote can however interact with the TV through obstructionslike furniture and walls when RF transmission is used. The type oftransmission used to send the control signal determines the maximumallowable distance between the Remote and the TV. The maximum allowabledistance in both the cases is typically only a few meters.

A remote is used for changing or scanning TV channels when channels arebeing broadcast. It is not possible to view a TV channel that hasalready been broadcast some time earlier with the help of a typicalRemote.

A user uses multiple buttons of a Remote to control settings and displayof media on a TV screen. The user gets visual information from thescreen of the TV, makes a choice and presses the buttons to realize thechoice. Operating a Remote may be inconvenient, because a user needs tolook back and forth between the Remote buttons and the TV screen tocomplete a task.

A TV generally receives channels either directly or indirectly via a settop box from a broadcaster. Many types of media systems are used toprovide supplemental or alternate video to the TV. Many of these mediasystems directly source locally accessed media, and others alternativelyor in addition provide television broadcast tuners for managingtelevision channel selection and video and audio settings. Exemplarymedia systems include cable and satellite set top boxes and DVD (DigitalVideo Disk) players. Each of these media systems is controlled throughdirect interaction or via a Remote. To interact with a user via aRemote, media systems deliver information via a TV's screen and speakersand receive information directly from the Remote. Again, as previouslymentioned, such interaction usually requires a user to look back andforth between the Remote and the TV screen in attempts to locate buttonsand understand the Remote's operation.

Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditionalapproaches will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the artthrough comparison of such systems with various aspects of the presentinvention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A laptop that interacts with a television system and/or media source,substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at leastone of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims. Theseand other advantages, aspects and novel features of the presentinvention, as well as details of illustrative aspects thereof, will bemore fully understood from the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For various aspects of the present invention to be easily understood andreadily practiced, various aspects will now be described, for purposesof illustration and not limitation, in conjunction with the followingfigures:

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating interaction between alaptop that remotely controls display on a screen of a television, thetelevision and various media sources that deliver media to thetelevision, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of thelaptop of FIG. 1 where the laptop interacts with the television via aset top box that is housed with the television in an entertainmentsystem;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of thelaptop of FIG. 2 further providing dual channel control support in thelaptop and in the set top box;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram illustrating interaction between alaptop, an entertainment system, a multimedia source and a storagesystem and communication paths between these elements, in accordancewith various aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a laptop thatindirectly controls display of media sourced by a remote media source ona television screen in addition to managing computations and processinginformation as per a set of instructions input by a user;

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of thelaptop of FIG. 5 further controlling storage of media sourced by aremote media broadcaster to a storage system;

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of thelaptop of FIG. 6 wherein the laptop interacts with the televisionscreen, the remote media broadcaster and the storage system via theInternet;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling selection anddelivery of processed media to a television screen and to a screen of alaptop based television remote control for display by the laptop, inaccordance with various aspects of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating functions of media selection andswapping of the laptop based television remote control of FIG. 8, inaccordance with various aspects of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating interaction between alaptop 103 that remotely controls display on a screen of a television105, the television 105 and various media sources 107 that deliver mediato the television 105. The laptop 103 has a laptop screen 111 (e.g., avideo display), processing circuitry 113 (e.g., which may comprisevarious hardware and/or software modules), a user input interface 115and communication interfaces 121. The television 105 has a televisionscreen 128 associated with it.

The communication interfaces 121 of the laptop 103 may comprise oneinterface or two interfaces, one each for communication with thetelevision 105 and any one of the various media sources 107. For exampleand without limitation, the communication interfaces 121 of the laptop103 may comprise a single communication interface via which the laptopis communicatively coupled to the television 105 and any of the variousmedia sources 107. The user input interface 115 of the laptop 103receives a selection from a user (e.g., a user input identifying a videoselection), the processing circuitry 113 retrieves via the communicationinterface 121 a first video stream (or, for example, any of a variety oftypes of video information) from the media sources 107, and the laptopscreen 111 displays the first video stream. The processing circuitry 113of the laptop 103 also delivers (e.g., transmits) a control signal viathe communication interface 121 to the television 105, where the controlsignal is adapted to direct display of a second video stream on thetelevision screen 128. The first video stream is identified for thelaptop screen 111, and the second video stream is identified for thetelevision screen 128 by the selection from the user. The second videostream is delivered to the television 105 from the media sources 107.

The selection by the user may, for example, identify two (or any numberof) media elements, where each media element has an audio portion and avideo portion. The selection may be performed using a media guide. Amedia guide may, for example, comprise a list that identifies aplurality of media elements available with the media sources 107. Amedia element may generally comprise characteristics of any of a varietyof selectable units of media information (e.g., multimedia information).For example and without limitation, a media element may comprisecharacteristics of a movie, music video, television program, televisionchannel, sporting or other entertainment event, news report, computergame or any of a variety of units of recorded or live multimediainformation.

The communication interface 121 receives the media guide (e.g., any of avariety of types of media guide information) from the media sources 107(or any of a variety of sources), a laptop memory 119 stores the mediaguide, and the laptop screen 111 displays the media guide. The user may,for example, select two media elements, one media element for thetelevision 105 and another media element for the laptop 103 using themedia guide. The selection is entered through the user input interface115. Subsequently, the processing circuitry 113 of the laptop 103triggers delivery of a first of the two selected media elements from themedia sources 107 to the television 105 for display on the televisionscreen 128. The processing circuitry 113 also delivers a video portionof a second of the two selected media elements to the laptop screen 111for display.

The first media element may be processed for (e.g., specifically adaptedfor) the television screen 128, and the second media element may beprocessed for (e.g., specifically adapted for) the laptop screen 111.Such processing may, for example and without limitation, comprisetranscoding, encoding and decoding, and/or various fittingfunctionalities. Any or all of such functionalities can be employed ordisabled in the laptop 103, in the television 105 and in the mediasources 107. The laptop 103 employs transcoding in block 117, thetelevision 105 employs transcoding in block 130, and a first mediasource 133 employs transcoding in block 143 and encoding/decoding inblock 145.

The laptop 103 may, for example, control various television systemsettings (e.g., settings related to media displayed on the televisionscreen 128). If the user input interface 115 receives a setting perusalselection (e.g., a user input indicating that the user desires to viewtelevision system settings) from the user, the communication interface121 receives a setting of the media displayed on the television screen128, and the laptop screen 111 displays the setting. The user may selectanother setting for the media displayed on the television screen 128 andenter the selection via the user input interface 115 of the laptop 103.The processing circuitry 113 of the laptop 103 then delivers a controlsignal via the communication interface 121 that directs application ofthe user-selected setting to the media displayed on the televisionscreen 128.

The laptop 103 is communicatively coupled to the television 105 and themedia sources 107 over respective wireless links. The media sources 107and the television 105 are communicatively coupled to each other viaanother wireless link. The wireless links may comprise characteristicsof any of a variety of communication link types (e.g., Bluetooth, IEEE802.11, IEEE 802.15, cellular telephony (e.g., GSM/GPRS/EDGE, CDMA,CDMA2000, UMTS, WCDMA, etc.), UltraWideBand, standard/proprietary,etc.).

The first media source 133 of the media sources 107 supports media in afirst format 141. The first media source 133 employs transcoding inblock 143. Transcoding may, for example, be performed on a media in thefirst format to save bandwidth. A second media source 135 of the mediasources 107 supports media in television format 151 (i.e., a format thatis prescribed for the television screen 128, for example, HDTV (HighDefinition Television) format). A third media source 137 of the mediasources 107 supports media in television format 161 and media in laptopformat 163 (e.g., SVGA (Super Video Graphics Array) format). The mediasources 133, 135, 137 employ encoding/decoding functionality in blocks145, 153 and 165, respectively. The encoding/decoding functionality may,for example, be advantageous, when the media source handles differentlyencoded media.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of thelaptop 103 of FIG. 1, where the laptop 203 interacts with the television205 via a set top box 207 that is housed with the television 205 in anentertainment system 201 (or, e.g., any of a variety of televisionsystem configurations). The user input interface 215 of the laptop 203receives a selection from the user. The selection may, for example,identify (e.g., directly or indirectly) a first video stream (or, e.g.,any of a variety of types of video information) for the laptop 203 and asecond video stream for a television screen 231. The processingcircuitry 213 of the laptop 203 requests, via the communicationinterface 221, the first video stream from the set top box 207. The settop box 207 retrieves the first video stream from a media source 209 andsends the retrieved first video stream to the processing circuitry 213of the laptop 203. The laptop screen 211 displays the retrieved firstvideo stream. The processing circuitry 213 of the laptop 203 delivers acontrol signal via the communication interface 221 to the set top box207. The control signal directs display of the second video stream onthe television screen 231. The set top box 207 subsequently receives thesecond video stream from the media source 209 and delivers the receivedsecond video stream to the television screen 231 for display.

The set top box 207 is communicatively coupled to the television 205,the laptop 203 and the media source 209 via communication interfaces241. The communication interfaces 241 may, for example, comprise a firstcommunication interface, a second communication interface and a thirdcommunication interface. The set top box 207 interacts with thetelevision 205, the laptop 203 and the media source 209 via the firstcommunication interface, the second communication interface and thethird communication interface, respectively. The communication linkbetween the set top box 207 and the television 205 is shown to be awireless link. The communication link (e.g., and any communication linkdiscussed herein) may alternatively, for example, comprisecharacteristics of a wired link, tethered optical link, non-tetheredoptical link, etc. Communication links between the set top box 207 andthe television 205 and the laptop 203 are, in this embodiment, wirelesslinks. Wireless links may comprise characteristics of any of a varietyof wireless link types (e.g., Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.15,UltraWideBand, any of a variety of cellular link types, any of a varietyof infrared or other optical link types, standard or propriety linktypes, etc.).

The selection from the user may, for example, identify two mediaelements where each media element has an audio portion and a videoportion. The selection may be performed using a media guide. A mediaguide may, for example, comprise a list that identifies a plurality ofmedia elements available with the media source 209. The two selectedmedia elements may then, for example, correspond to any two of theplurality of media elements.

The communication interface 221 of the laptop 203 receives a media guide(e.g., media guide information) from the media source 209 via the settop box 207. Laptop memory 219 stores the media guide, and the laptopscreen 211 displays the media guide. The user interacts with the laptopscreen 211 visually, scans the media guide and enters a selectionthrough the user input interface 215 of the laptop 203. The selectionfrom the user identifies (e.g., directly or indirectly), for example,two media elements, one for the television 205 and another for thelaptop 203.

The set top box 207 comprises a storage system 235. The set top box 207,in response to a request from the laptop 203 for the media guide,retrieves the media guide and forwards the retrieved media guide to thelaptop 203. The media guide, for example, may reside in the media source209. In one embodiment, the set top box 207, after retrieving the mediaguide from the media source 209, stores the media guide in the storagesystem 235 and sends a second copy of the media guide to the laptop 203.In this embodiment, the set top box 207, in response to a consecutiverequest from the laptop 203 for the media guide, might not retrieve themedia guide again from the media source 209. In such a case, the set topbox 207, may for example, retrieve the media guide from the storagesystem 235 and forward the media guide to the laptop 203. In thisembodiment, a saving is made in time and bandwidth.

The processing circuitry 213 of the laptop 203 triggers delivery of afirst of the two selected media elements from the media source 209 tothe set top box 207. The set top box 207 receives the first of the twoselected media elements from the media source 209 and forwards thereceived media element to display driver circuitry of the television 205for display on the television screen 231. The processing circuitry 213of the laptop 203 also sends a request to the set top box 207 for thesecond of the two selected media elements. The set top box 207 receivesthe second of the two selected media elements from the media source 209and forwards the received media element to the laptop 203. The laptop203 receives the second of the two selected media elements from the settop box 207 via a second communication interface of the set top box 207and the communication interface 221 of the laptop 203. The laptop screen211 then displays a video portion of the second of the two selectedmedia elements.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of thelaptop 203 of FIG. 2 further providing dual channel control support inthe laptop 303 and in the set top box 307. The laptop 303 controlsdisplay of a first television channel on the entertainment system 301and display of a second television channel on the laptop 303. Each ofthe first television channel and the second television channel has anaudio portion and a video portion. The processing circuitry 313 of thelaptop 303 sends a control signal to the set top box 307 directingdelivery of the first television channel from the media source 309 to atelevision 305. In this non-limiting example, the media source 309 is atelevision channel broadcaster and/or a television channel serviceprovider. After receiving the control signal, the set top box 307receives the first television channel from the media source 309 (e.g.,television channel broadcaster and/or a television channel serviceprovider) and forwards the first television channel to the television305. The television 305 displays a video portion of the first televisionchannel on a television screen 325. The television 305 plays an audioportion of the first television channel on a television speaker.

The set top box 307 receives the second television channel from themedia source 309 (e.g., television channel broadcaster and/or atelevision channel service provider) and forwards the second televisionchannel to the laptop 303. The laptop 303 receives the second televisionchannel via the communication interface 321, and next the processingcircuitry 313 of the laptop 303 forwards a video portion of the receivedsecond television channel to the laptop screen 311 for display. Theprocessing circuitry 313 of the laptop 303 supports dual channel controlfunctionality 314 by supporting the laptop screen 311 and by supportingthe television screen 325 via the set top box 307. Similarly, the settop box 307 supports the laptop screen 311 and the television screen325, and hence the processing circuitry 333 of the set top box 307 alsosupports dual channel control functionality as shown in block 335. Afirst channel output 337 and a second channel output 339 are shown inthe processing circuitry 333 of the set top box 307. A first of thechannel outputs 337, 339 is forwarded by the processing circuitry 333 ofthe set top box 307 to the television screen 325, and a second of thechannel outputs 337, 339 is sent by the processing circuitry 333 of theset top box 307 to the laptop 303.

The laptop 303 may direct a third television channel to a STB storagesystem 331 of the set top box 307 in response to a media storage commandfrom the user through the user input interface 315 of the laptop 303.The media storage command from the user identifies the third televisionchannel. The laptop 303 sends a second control signal to the set top box307, which subsequently receives the third television channel from themedia source 309 and stores information corresponding to the receivedthird television channel in the STB storage system 331.

The third television channel may be processed in the set top box 307 forthe STB storage system 331. Such processing may, for example, compriseone or more of transcoding, encoding and decoding. Transcoding may, forexample, be performed to save bandwidth occupied by an audio portionand/or a video portion of the third television channel. Encoding anddecoding may, for example, be performed to make the audio portion andthe video portion of the third television channel compatible with anencoding standard used in the laptop 303, in the television 305 and/orin the set top box 307.

The laptop 303 may send a third control signal to the set top box 307 inresponse to a television setting perusal request input by the user viathe user input interface 315 of the laptop 303. The third control signaltriggers the set top box 307 to receive setting informationcorresponding to a television channel (or any media element) displayedon the television screen 325 from the television 305 and send thesetting information to the laptop 303. The laptop 303 receives thesetting information via the communication interface 321, and the laptopscreen 311 displays the setting information. The user may select anothersetting for the television channel displayed on the television screen325 and enter a selection corresponding to the another setting via theuser input interface 315 of the laptop 303. The processing circuitry 313of the laptop 303 then delivers a fourth control signal via thecommunication interface 321 that directs application of theuser-selected setting to the television channel displayed on thetelevision screen 325.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram illustrating interaction between alaptop 403, an entertainment system 405, a multimedia source 409 and astorage system 407 and communication paths 411 between these elements.The laptop 403 has a laptop screen 414, a speaker 415, a laptop memory419, a communication interface 420 and a user input interface 428 thatare communicatively coupled to each other via processing circuitry 417of the laptop 403. The laptop 403 also comprises a transcoding unit 424,an encoding/decoding unit 425 and a fitting unit 426. The transcodingunit 424, the encoding/decoding unit 425 and the fitting unit 426 may bedisabled. The laptop 403 further comprises a rechargeable power source427 supplying power that may be needed, for example, for processingmultimedia information and for communicating with the entertainmentsystem 405 or other communicatively coupled entities.

The communication interface 420 of the laptop 403 may, for example, beeither of, or a combination of, a wireless interface 421 and a wiredinterface 422. The user input interface 428 may, for example, compriseone or more of: buttons 429, a touchpad 430, a pen 431, a thumbwheel432, a mouse 433 and a voice interface 434.

The entertainment system 405 has a screen 440, a speaker 441, a memory450, a communication interface 445 and an input interface 451 that arecommunicatively coupled to each other via processing circuitry 444 ofthe entertainment system 405. The communication interface 445 may, forexample, be either of, or a combination of, a wireless interface and awired interface. The entertainment system 405 may comprise a televisionand a set top box. In such case, some of the elements of theentertainment system 405 may be housed in the television and the rest ofthe elements may be housed in the set top box. The entertainment system405 may be, for example, a television and a home theatre system.

The multimedia source 409 comprises television broadcasting 461, a localmedia source 462 and an Internet server 463. The multimedia source 409is a repository of a plurality of multimedia elements and a plurality ofvideo streams. Each of the plurality of multimedia elements has an audioportion and a video portion. The plurality of multimedia elements may,for example, include one of, or a combination of, a television channel,a computer game, a movie and recorded multimedia. The plurality of videostreams may, for example, include one or more of a recorded video, apicture, a photo, a video portion of a television channel, a video gameand a live snippet.

A user uses the laptop 403 to control selection and display of amultimedia element on the screen 440 of the entertainment system 405.The laptop 403 receives a selection from the user via the user inputinterface 428. The selection may, for example, be a selection of twomultimedia elements, two video streams, a multimedia element and a videostream for the laptop 403 and the entertainment system 405,respectively, a multimedia element for either the laptop 403 or theentertainment system 405, a setting selection for the entertainmentsystem 405, a media storage selection identifying a second multimediaelement for the storage system 407, and a media swapping selection.

For example, the selection from the user identifies two multimediaelements, a first multimedia element for the laptop 403 and a secondmultimedia element for the entertainment system 405. The laptop 403receives, via the communication interface 420, the first multimediaelement from the multimedia source 409. The audio portion of the firstmultimedia element is forwarded to the speaker 415 for listening, andthe video portion is forwarded to the laptop screen 414 for display. Thelaptop 403 sends a control signal to the entertainment system 405 totrigger delivery of the second multimedia element from the multimediasource 409 to the entertainment system 405. The entertainment system 405receives, via the communication interface 445, the second multimediaelement from the multimedia source 409. The audio portion of the secondmultimedia element is forwarded to the speaker 441 for listening, andthe video portion is forwarded to the screen 440 for display.

The first multimedia element is processed in the laptop 403. Suchprocessing may, for example, comprise transcoding 424, encoding anddecoding 425, and fitting functionalities 426. One or more of thesefunctionalities may be disabled depending on processing capability ofthe processing circuitry 417, consumption of the rechargeable powersource 427 and support of similar functionalities in the entertainmentsystem 405, the multimedia source 409 and the storage system 407. Thesecond multimedia element is processed in the entertainment system 405.Such processing may, for example, comprise transcoding 447, encoding anddecoding 448, and fitting functionalities 449. One or more of thesefunctionalities may be disabled.

Either or both of the laptop 403 and the entertainment system 405 mightreceive only the video or audio portion of a multimedia element. Eitheror both of the laptop 403 and the entertainment system 405 canalternately, or in addition, receive a video stream, depending on theselection.

For example and without limitation, the selection may correspond toperusal of settings of the entertainment system 405. The laptop 403, forexample, receives speaker and screen settings of the entertainmentsystem 405 from the entertainment system 405 via the communicationinterface 420 and displays the settings on the laptop screen 414. If theselection corresponds to application of a different setting for eitherthe screen 440 or the speaker 441 or both of the entertainment system405, the processing circuitry 417 of the laptop 403 then delivers acontrol signal via the communication interface 420 that directsapplication of the different setting to the entertainment system 405.

For example, the selection may correspond to a media-swapping request.The laptop 403 sends a request to the multimedia source 409 for a firstmultimedia element that is currently being played by the entertainmentsystem (e.g., displayed on the entertainment system screen 440). Thelaptop 403 sends a control signal to the multimedia source 409 directingthe multimedia source 409 to deliver a second multimedia element that iscurrently being played by the laptop 403 to the entertainment system405. The multimedia source 409 delivers the second multimedia element tothe entertainment system 405. The entertainment system 405 then playsthe second multimedia element. The laptop 403 receives the firstmultimedia element from the multimedia source 409 via the communicationinterface 420. The laptop 403 then plays the first multimedia element.

In yet another case, the selection identifies a storage system 407 and amultimedia element. The laptop 403 triggers delivery of the multimediaelement from the multimedia source 409 to the storage system 407. Thecommunication pathway 411 connecting the laptop 403, the entertainmentsystem 405, the storage system 405 and the multimedia source 409 may,for example, comprise one of, or a combination of, a copper wire, afiber and a wireless medium. Wireless technologies used forcommunication may, for example and without limitation, be one or more ofa cellular transmission, 802.11, 802.15, UltrawideBand, UMTS, GSM, GPRS,Bluetooth, and an infrared transmission. The storage system 407 may, forexample, comprise one or more of a portable storage, a non-portablestorage, a removable storage, a rewritable storage, a read only storage,a worm storage, a volatile storage and a nonvolatile storage.

The laptop 403, the entertainment system 405, the storage system 407 andthe multimedia source 409 may, for example, be located in four differentpremises. The storage system 407 may alternatively, for example, be anintegral part of the laptop 403, or the entertainment system 405 or themultimedia source 409. The laptop 403 can also trigger delivery of themultimedia element from the multimedia source 409 to more than onestorage system.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a laptop 503 thatindirectly controls display of media sourced by a remote media source541 on a television screen 513, in addition to managing computations andprocessing information as per a set of instructions input by a user. Thelaptop 503 controls delivery of media from the remote media source 541to the television 511 via a set top box 521. The set top box 521 iscommunicatively coupled to the television 511 over a wired link. Thewired link may be, for example, an optical fiber or a copper cable. Theset top box 521 may alternately or in addition be communicativelycoupled to the television 511 via, for example, any one or combinationof an infrared, a cellular network and a Bluetooth connection. The settop box 521 interacts with the remote media source 541 over a secondwired link. The second wired link may be one or more of a copper cableand an optical fiber. The set top box 521 is communicatively coupled (orconnected) to the laptop 503 through a wireless network. The wirelessnetwork may comprise characteristics of any of a variety of wirelesslink types (e.g., Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.15, UltraWideBand,satellite link, any of a variety of cellular link types, any of avariety of infrared or other optical link types, standard or proprietylink types, etc.). In the one embodiment shown in the FIG. 5, the settop box 521 comprises a wireless communication interface and two wiredcommunication interfaces, first of the two for the television 511 andsecond of the two for the remote media source 541. The laptop 503 islocated at a first premises, the set top box 521 and the television 511are located at a second premises, and the remote media source 541 islocated at a third premises. In another embodiment, the laptop 503, thetelevision 511 and the set top box 521 may be located at the firstpremises. The remote media source 541 may be, for example and withoutlimitation, a television broadcaster, a music repository, a DVD, a VCD,a video camera, a photo camera, a computer game and a movie server.

The laptop 503 receives a request from a user through keys (or otherinput devices) of the laptop 503 and accordingly sends a control signalto the set top box 521. The control signal from the laptop 503 to theset top box 521 may, for example, identify a media element and may inaddition indicate if the media element is meant for the television 511or the laptop 503. If the media element is meant for the laptop 503,then the set top box 521 receives the media element from the remotemedia source 541 and forwards the received media element to the laptop503. The laptop 503 then displays the media element on the laptop screen505. If the media element is meant for the television 511, then the settop box 521 receives the media element from the remote media source 541and forwards the received media element to the television 511. The mediaelement is subsequently displayed on the television screen 513. Forexample, the remote media source 541 is a movie server and the mediaelement is a movie. The request received via the keys of the laptop 503indicates that the movie is to be displayed on the laptop screen 505. Inthis non-limiting example, in response to the request, the laptop 503instructs the set top box 521 to receive the movie from the movie server(541) via the second wired link and to forward the received movie to thelaptop 503. The laptop 503 receives the movie from the set top box 521via the wireless network and next displays a video portion of the movieon the laptop screen 505 and plays an audio portion of the movie on alaptop speaker.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of thelaptop 503 of FIG. 5 further controlling storage of media sourced by aremote media broadcaster 641 to a storage system. A television 611comprises a plurality of buttons 615 via which a user may controlsettings and display on the television screen 613. The television 611 iscommunicatively coupled to a set top box 621. The set top box 621comprises a second plurality of buttons 627 and a display 629. The usermay use the second plurality of buttons 627 and the display 629 tomodify the settings and display on the television screen 613. The laptop603 comprises a third plurality of buttons 608 with which the user maycontrol the settings and display on the television screen 613. Thelaptop 603 controls delivery of media (e.g., multimedia informationand/or video information) from the remote media broadcaster 641 to thetelevision 611 via the set top box 621. The laptop 603 iscommunicatively coupled to the set top box 621 that is againcommunicatively coupled to the remote media broadcaster 641. The remotemedia broadcaster 641 is shown in the figure to be coupled to the settop box 621 via a wired link. In one embodiment, the communicationconnection between the set top box 621 and the remote media broadcaster641 may be a wireless link, which may typically be, without limitation,a satellite link, any of a variety of cellular links or a Bluetoothlink. The set top box 621 is located at a first premises, and the remotemedia broadcaster 641 is located at a second premises. The remote mediabroadcaster 641 is typically a television channel broadcaster, a radiochannel broadcaster or a television channel service provider premises.Media broadcast by the remote media broadcaster 641 may, for example,comprise a plurality of television programs and/or a plurality of radioprograms. The set top box 621 has four communication interfaces, firstof the four to communicate with the television 611, second of the fourto communicate with the remote media broadcaster 641, third of the fourto interact with a media storage 651 and fourth of the four 629 tocommunicate with the laptop 603.

The storage system may be one of the media storage 651 that iscommunicatively coupled to the set top box 621, a storage 623 housedwith the set top box 621 and a removable media storage unit 607 that isplugged into the laptop 603. The laptop 603 may receive a media storagerequest from a user via the third plurality of buttons 608. The mediastorage request identifies the storage system and a media element thatis available with the remote media broadcaster 641.

If the media storage request received by the laptop 603 identifies themedia storage 651 that is communicatively coupled to the set top box621, then the laptop 603 sends a control signal to the set top box 621using communication interface 609 of the laptop. In response to thecontrol signal from the laptop 603, the set top box 621 receives themedia element from the remote media broadcaster 641 and delivers thereceived media element to the media storage 651 for storage. The mediastorage 651 may, for example, be one or combination of a media server, aDVD, a VCD, a tape and a music repository. The media storage 651 may bea removable storage unit. In that case, the media storage 651 may beplugged into any device (e.g., the laptop 603) having a media player,and the stored media element may be replayed on the device using themedia player. For example and without limitation, the media element maybe a sports program, and the media storage 651 may be a DVD. In thisnon-limiting example, the sports program once stored in the DVD may bereplayed at a subsequent time using the media player.

If the media storage request identifies the storage 623 housed with theset top box 621, then the laptop 603 sends a control signal to the settop box 621 that triggers delivery of the media element from the remotemedia broadcaster 641 to the set top box 621. The set top box 621receives the media element from the remote media broadcaster 641 andforwards the received media element to the storage 623 for storage. Ifthe media storage request identifies the removable media storage unit607 that is plugged into the laptop, then the laptop 603 receives themedia element from the remote media broadcaster 641 via the set top box621 and forwards the received media element to the removable mediastorage unit 607 for storage.

The media storage request received by the laptop 603 may identify morethan one media storage system, in which case, the media element isdelivered to all the selected media storage systems. The media elementstored in the storage systems (607, 623 or 651 or a combination thereof)may be replayed at a subsequent time on the device having the mediaplayer.

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of thelaptop 603 of FIG. 6 wherein the laptop 703 interacts with thetelevision screen 723, a remote media source 761 and the media storage751 via the Internet 741. The laptop 703 comprises an IP (InternetProtocol) address. The laptop 703 is adapted to communicate to anydevice having another IP address. The laptop 703 is communicativelycoupled to an Internet access point 711 via a wireless link. Thewireless link may, for example, be one or more of a Bluetooth link, anIEEE 802.11 link and an IEEE 802.15 link. The laptop 703 may be coupledto the Internet access point 711 via a wired link. The wired link may,for example, be one or a combination of an optical fiber link, a coaxialcable link and an Ethernet link. The laptop 703 interacts with theInternet 741 via the Internet access point 711. The media storage 751and the remote media source 761 are communicatively coupled to theInternet 741. The laptop 703 interacts with the media storage 751 andthe remote media source 761 via the Internet 741 if necessary. Theremote media source 761 comprises a plurality of media elements. Theplurality of media elements may be, for example, a combination of storedmovies, personal videos, television programs, video portions oftelevision programs and video games. The laptop 703 may access theplurality of media elements using the Internet 741.

The set top box 731 comprises a set top box storage 733. The set top box731 is coupled to the Internet 741 and coupled to the media storage 751and the remote media source 761 via the Internet 741. The set top box731 may access the plurality of media elements using the Internet 741.The set top box 731 comprises a second IP address. The set top box 731is communicatively coupled to a television 721 and controls settings anddisplay of the television screen 723. The laptop 703 interacts with theset top box 731 via the Internet 741.

The laptop 703 comprises a plurality of buttons (or other input devices)via which a user enters a selection. The laptop 703 receives a mediaselection. The media selection identifies a first media element and oneor more displays on which the first media element is to be displayed.For example, the remote media source 761 is a television programbroadcaster, and the first media element is a television programbroadcast by the television program broadcaster 761. The media selectionidentifies the laptop screen 705 and the television screen 723 as thedisplays on which the first media element is to be displayed. The laptop703 instructs the set top box 731 to receive the television program fromthe television program broadcaster 761 via the Internet 741 and forwardthe television program to the television 721. The television 721receives the television program from the set top box 731 and displays avideo portion of the television program on the television screen 723.The set top box 731, in addition, sends the television program to thelaptop 703 via the Internet 741. Alternately, the laptop 703 retrievesthe television program from the television program broadcaster 761 viathe Internet 741 and the Internet access point 711. The laptop 703displays the received television program on the laptop screen 705.

The laptop 703 may subsequently receive a storage selection enteredusing the plurality of buttons. The storage selection identifies asecond media element and a location where the second media element is tobe stored. For example and without limitation, the remote media source761 is a movie server, the second media element is a movie stored in themovie server 761 and the location where the movie (the second mediaelement) is to be stored is a removable storage unit 707 attached to thelaptop 703. For this example, the laptop 703 retrieves the movie (thesecond media element) from the movie server 761 via the Internet 741 andthe Internet access point 711 and next stores the movie in the removablestorage unit 707.

The laptop screen 705 and the television screen 723 may support media inseparate formats. For example, the laptop 703 receives a second mediaselection. The second media selection identifies a music video that isto be displayed on the laptop screen 705. The laptop 703 determines thatthe music video is in a format not supported by the laptop screen 705.The laptop 703 directs flow of the music video from the remote mediasource 761 to a transcoding server 771 via the Internet 741. Thetranscoding server 771 applies transcoding to the music video andgenerates the music video in the laptop screen format. The laptop 703receives the music video in the laptop screen format from thetranscoding server 771 via the Internet 741 and the Internet accesspoint 711. Next, the laptop screen 705 displays the transcoded musicvideo.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling selection anddelivery of processed media to a television screen and to a screen of alaptop-based remote control for display by the laptop. The method maybegin at a start block (or step) 803. In a next block 805, thelaptop-based remote control responds to a media guide-viewing requestfrom a user. The user may enter the media guide-viewing request throughan input interface of the laptop. In such case, the laptop receives themedia guide-viewing request via the input interface of the laptop atblock 805 and responds to the request by receiving the media guide fromthe media source and displaying the media guide on the screen of thelaptop in block 805. A media source may, for example, comprise one of anInternet media server, an Intranet media server, a broadcast televisionprovider and a local media storage such as a hard drive, a DVD, a CD anda tape. The media guide identifies a plurality of media elementsavailable with the media source(s). The media guide helps the user tomake a media selection of one or more than one media element from theplurality of media elements. A media element may, for example, comprisea movie, a television channel, an audio-visual game, a photo, a livesnippet, a video, a video portion of a television channel, and a videogame.

In a next block 807, the laptop receives the media selection from theuser. The media selection may be based on the media guide. The mediaselection may identify a media element for either the laptop or thetelevision screen or for both. The media selection may alternatelyidentify two media elements, one for the laptop and another for thetelevision screen. For example and without limitation, the mediaselection identifies a media element to be displayed on a screen of thelaptop. The laptop sends a request to the media source seeking deliveryof the selected media element from the media source. The selected mediaelement may be a free-to-use media element. If the selected mediaelement is not free, then the laptop purchases the selected mediaelement in next block 809. Purchasing may, for example, include one of,or a combination of, key based and plastic card based purchasing.Purchasing may include one or more user interactive steps, where theuser is guided through displays on the screen of the laptop followed bythe laptop receiving entries from the user via the input interface ofthe laptop. If the selected media element is free-to-use then the laptopmight not purchase the selected media element. Even then the laptop mayperform credential verification functionalities at block 809.

The laptop receives the selected media element from the media source ina next block 811. The selected media element may be received in a formatthat may or may not be supported by the screen of the laptop. If theselected media element is received in a format that is not supported bythe screen of the laptop, then transcoding is applied to the receivedmedia element by the laptop as shown in a next block 813, and transcodedmedia is generated. The laptop might not be able to perform thetranscoding because of limited processing capability, limited power orlimited memory. In that case, the laptop may direct a transcoding serverto perform the transcoding functionality at block 811. The laptop maysend the received media element to the transcoding server or may directthe selected media element from the media source to the transcodingserver and then receive the transcoded media from the transcodingserver. If the transcoding server performs the transcodingfunctionality, then the laptop does not apply the transcoding to thereceived media element in block 813. The laptop displays the transcodedmedia on the screen of the laptop in a next and final block 815.

The media selection may in addition identify a second media element tobe displayed on the television screen. The laptop sends a request to themedia source seeking delivery of the second media element from the mediasource to the television screen. The media source sends a second mediaelement to the television for display.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating functions of media selection andswapping of the laptop-based television remote control of FIG. 8, inaccordance with various aspects of the present invention. The method maybegin at block (or step) 903. The laptop waits for a user input as shownat a next block 905. The laptop receives the user input from the user inblock 905. The user input may identify a media selection comprising afirst media element for the television and/or a second media element forthe laptop. The user input may comprise, in addition or only, amedia-swapping request. In a next block 907, the laptop checks whetherthe first media element for the television is selected. If the firstmedia element for the television is selected, then the laptop triggersdelivery of the first media element to the television at a next block909. Next, the operational flow of the laptop-based television remotecontrol returns to block 905.

If the laptop determines in block 907 that the first media element isnot selected, then the laptop checks in block 911 if the second mediaelement for the laptop is selected. If the laptop determines that thesecond media element is selected, then the laptop, in a next block 913,requests the second media element. The laptop may request the mediasource for the second media element if the media source stores thesecond media element. The laptop receives the second media element inblock 913. In a next block 915, the laptop displays the second mediaelement on the laptop screen. Then, the operational flow of the laptopreturns to block 905 and the laptop awaits another user input.

If the laptop determines in block 911 that the second media element isnot selected, then the laptop checks in a next block 917 whether theuser input comprises the media-swapping request. If the user input doesnot comprise the media-swapping request, then operational flow of thelaptop returns to block 905. If yes, then the laptop requests a mediaelement that is currently displayed on the television screen in a nextblock 919 and subsequently receives the media element that is currentlydisplayed on the television screen in the same block 919. The laptopalso triggers delivery of another media element that is currentlydisplayed on the screen of the laptop to the television screen in a nextblock 921. The laptop then displays the received media element on thescreen of the laptop in block 915. Thus, the media element that wasdisplayed on the television screen is now displayed on the screen of thelaptop and vice versa. The operational flow of the laptop then returnsto block 905, and the laptop awaits another user input.

As one of average skill in the art will appreciate, the term“communicatively coupled”,” as may be used herein, includes wireless andwired, direct coupling and indirect coupling via another component,element, circuit, or module. As one of average skill in the art willalso appreciate, inferred coupling (i.e., where one element is coupledto another element by inference) includes wireless and wired, direct andindirect coupling between two elements in the same manner as“communicatively coupled”.”

Various aspects of the present invention have also been described abovewith the aid of method steps illustrating the performance of specifiedfunctions and relationships thereof. The boundaries and sequence ofthese functional building blocks and method steps have been arbitrarilydefined herein for convenience of description. Alternate boundaries andsequences can be defined so long as the specified functions andrelationships are appropriately performed. Any such alternate boundariesor sequences are thus within the scope and spirit of the claimedinvention.

Various aspects of the present invention have additionally beendescribed above with the aid of functional building blocks illustratingthe performance of certain significant functions and relationships. Theboundaries of these functional building blocks and relationships betweenvarious functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined forconvenience of description. Alternate boundaries or relationships couldbe defined as long as the certain significant functions areappropriately performed. Similarly, flow diagram blocks may also havebeen arbitrarily defined herein to illustrate certain significantfunctionality. To the extent used, the flow diagram block boundaries andsequence could have been defined otherwise and still perform the certainsignificant functionality. Such alternate boundaries or relationshipsdefinitions of both functional building blocks and flow diagram blocksand sequences are thus within the scope and spirit of the claimedinvention.

One of average skill in the art will also recognize that the functionalbuilding blocks, and other illustrative blocks, modules and componentsherein, can be implemented as illustrated or by discrete components,application specific integrated circuits, processors executingappropriate software and the like or any combination thereof.

In summary, various aspects of the present invention provide a laptopthat interacts with a television system and/or media source. While theinvention has been described with reference to certain aspects andembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. In addition, manymodifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material tothe teachings of the invention without departing from its scope.Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to theparticular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include allembodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

1-21. (canceled)
 22. A portable computer that interacts with a hometelevision system, the portable computer comprising: a communicationinterface operable to communicate with a set top box of a hometelevision system; a user input interface operable to receive a userinput identifying a media selection; and at least one module operableto: transmit a control signal via the communication interface to the settop box, where the control signal is adapted to direct the set top boxto communicate the media selection to the portable computer.
 23. Theportable computer of claim 22, wherein the communication interface isoperable to establish a two-way communication link with the set top box.24. The portable computer of claim 22, wherein the communicationinterface is operable to establish a wireless RF communication link withthe set top box.
 25. The portable computer of claim 22, wherein thecommunication interface is operable to establish a non-tethered opticalcommunication link with the set top box.
 26. The portable computer ofclaim 22, where the control signal is adapted to direct the set top boxto retrieve the media selection from a media source separate from theset top box.
 27. The portable computer of claim 22, wherein the at leastone module is operable to transmit a guide control signal to the set topbox, where the guide control signal is adapted to direct the set top boxto communicate media guide information to the portable computer.
 28. Theportable computer of claim 22, where the control signal is adapted tocause the set top box to, prior to communicating the media selection tothe portable computer, transcode the media selection from a first codingformat to a second coding format.
 29. The portable computer of claim 28,where the first coding format generally corresponds to media coding fora home television system, and the second coding format generallycorresponds to media coding for a personal computer system.
 30. Theportable computer of claim 22, wherein the at least one module isoperable to transcode media information received from the set top boxfrom a first coding format to a second coding format.
 31. The portablecomputer of claim 22, wherein the at least one module is operable toutilize the communication interface to communicate with a media sourcevia the set top box.
 32. The portable computer of claim 31, where themedia source is located at a different premises from the set top box.33. The portable computer of claim 22, wherein the at least one moduleis operable to utilize the communication interface to communicate with amedia source via the set top box and the Internet.
 34. The portablecomputer of claim 22, where the media selection comprises audio mediawith no video.
 35. The portable computer of claim 22, where the mediaselection comprises video with no audio.
 36. The portable computer ofclaim 22, where the portable computer is a laptop computer.
 37. A hometelevision system set top box comprising: a communication interfaceoperable to communicate with a portable computer; and at least onemodule operable to: receive a control signal via the communicationinterface from a portable computer, the control signal adapted to directthe set top box to communicate a media selection to the portablecomputer; and in response to the received control signal, communicatethe media selection to the portable computer.
 38. The set top box ofclaim 37, wherein the communication interface is operable to establish awireless RF communication link with the portable computer.
 39. The settop box of claim 37, wherein the at least one module is operable to, inresponse to the received control signal, retrieve the media selectionfrom a media source separate from the set top box.
 40. The set top boxof claim 37, wherein the at least one module is operable to, in responseto a received guide control signal, communicate media guide informationto the portable computer.
 41. The set top box of claim 37, wherein theat least one module is operable to, in response to the received controlsignal, prior to communicating the media selection to the portablecomputer, transcode the media selection from a first coding format to asecond coding format.
 42. The set top box of claim 37, wherein the atleast one module is operable to support communication between theportable computer and a media source via the set top box.